The Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs are seeking volunteers and community partners to help provide free tax preparation services during the upcoming filing season.
VITA and TCE volunteers make a meaningful impact in local communities by helping eligible taxpayers file their tax returns for free. In 2026, more than 84,500 volunteers helped taxpayers file nearly 2.9 million tax returns at no cost.
“Volunteers and community partners provide essential assistance to help taxpayers meet their tax obligations,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “By giving their time, expertise and local support, VITA and TCE volunteers help expand access to free, trusted tax preparation services and strengthen taxpayer service in communities across the country.”
No experience is necessary to volunteer for the VITA and TCE programs. The IRS provides free training for a variety of roles based on volunteers’ skills, interests or available time. Volunteers range from students to retirees and serve taxpayers including seniors, taxpayers with disabilities and residents of rural communities. Volunteer opportunities may include flexible hours and virtual options, depending on the site.
In addition to volunteers, the IRS depends on community partnerships to help underserved taxpayers across the country. Last year, approximately 9,000 VITA/TCE sites were hosted by schools, nonprofits, financial institutions, faith-based groups and other organizations. By hosting or sponsoring a VITA/TCE site, partners can help expand access to trusted, free tax preparation services in underserved communities.
How to get involved
Individuals and organizations interested in participating can submit the VITA/TCE volunteer and partner sign up form. Organizations interested in becoming VITA/TCE partners will be contacted by an IRS relationship manager to discuss next steps and address questions.
Interested volunteers will receive a list of available local VITA/TCE sites and an invitation to a virtual orientation approximately 14 days after submitting their interest. The IRS encourages interested individuals to sign up from October through January. Additional details are available at IRS Tax Volunteers on IRS.gov.
No. Prior tax experience is not required. The IRS provides free, comprehensive training for a variety of roles based on your skills, interests, and availability.
The programs assist underserved taxpayers across local communities, specifically focusing on seniors, individuals with disabilities, residents of rural areas, and low-to-moderate-income families.
Organizations (such as schools, non-profits, financial institutions, and faith-based groups) can submit the VITA/TCE volunteer and partner sign-up form on IRS.gov. Once submitted, an IRS relationship manager will reach out directly to guide your organization through the next steps.
Volunteer opportunities offer flexible hours, and depending on the specific host site, virtual or remote volunteering options may be available.
After submitting the form, you will receive a list of local site options and an invitation to a virtual orientation approximately 14 days later. The IRS strongly encourages interested individuals to sign up between October and January ahead of the tax filing season.
Suresh holds a Master of Commerce (M.Com) degree and is a dedicated personal finance researcher and writer. Combining his advanced academic background in commerce with deep industry research, he covers complex topics like taxation, banking systems, credit analysis, and personal finance strategies. As the founder of Tax Assistant (taxassistant.org), Suresh is committed to translating complicated financial guidelines and economic data into simple, accurate, and actionable educational resources for everyday readers.
